Further Thoughts On 12 Years A Slave

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A couple of week’s back, I saw 12 Years A Slave as part of a Scottish press screening event. I’d read a lot about the film, had come to be a Steve McQueen admirer on the back of his previous films Hunger and Shame, and was a fan of many of the actors the film sported. So, it came as a bit of a surprise to me that, even though I liked the film a lot and felt Steve McQueen achieved exactly what he wanted to achieve (a forceful, no-holds-barred depiction of slavery like we haven’t seen before), I couldn’t help but feel underwhelmed.  Continue reading “Further Thoughts On 12 Years A Slave”

2012 Jameson Empire Awards: Winners

The winners of the 2012 Jameson Empire Awards were announced this evening at a lavish ceremony held within London’s Grosvenor House Hotel.

Now in their seventeenth year, the awards recognise the the excellence of professionals in the local and global film industry, and were voted for by readers of Britain’s biggest film magazine.

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy emerged the night’s biggest winner, bagging a total of Continue reading “2012 Jameson Empire Awards: Winners”

Jameson Empire Awards 2012: Nominations

The nominees for the 2012 Jameson Empire Awards were revealed earlier today on Empire’s official website.

The awards, now in their seventeenth year, aim to recognize excellence of professionals in the local and global film industry, and are voted for by readers of Britain’s biggest film magazine (vote here).

The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, Attack The Block, Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes and Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy lead the way with four nominations apiece Continue reading “Jameson Empire Awards 2012: Nominations”

London Critics’ Circle Film Awards 2012: Winners

Actors, actresses, critics and industry types gathered at the BFI Southbank, London earlier this evening to reveal the 32nd annual London Critics’ Circle Film Award winners.

Emerging on top were The Artist, which scooped three awards; A Separation, which won two prizes; and We Need To Talk About Kevin, which – deservedly so – won British Film Of Year .

Anna Paquin (!!!) tied with Meryl Streep for Actress Of The Year, while Olivia Continue reading “London Critics’ Circle Film Awards 2012: Winners”

Evening Standard British Film Awards 2012: Nominations

Shame, Tyrannosaur and Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy lead the nominations for the 39th London Evening Standard British Film Awards.

Selected by a host of Britain’s leading film critics, the London Evening Standard British Film Awards recognise the skill and audacity of those involved with the British film industry.

The awards, hosted by Stephen Mangan, will take place on Monday, February 6 Continue reading “Evening Standard British Film Awards 2012: Nominations”

BAFTA Film Awards 2012: Nominations

The nominations for the 2012 Orange British Academy Film Awards (BAFTA’s) were revealed earlier this morning by Daniel Radcliffe and Holliday Grainger.

The Artist lead the way with a whopping twelve nominations, with Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy following closely behind with a still impressive ten.

Meanwhile, The Descendants, We Need To Talk About Kevin, Hugo and The Help all picked up several nominations in key categories, while Paddy Considine, Continue reading “BAFTA Film Awards 2012: Nominations”

Golden Globes 2012: Winners

At a glitzy awards ceremony in Beverly Hills, California, the winners of the 69th annual Golden Globe Awards were announced, with The Descendants, The Artist and Martin Scorsese winning the night’s top prizes.

In terms of acting, George Clooney, Meryl Streep, Jean Dujardin and Michelle Williams walked away winners for their performances in The Descendants, The Iron Lady, The Artist and My Week With Marilyn, respectively.

The full list of winners: Continue reading “Golden Globes 2012: Winners”

Review: Shame (2011)

Brandon (Michael Fassbender), a highly successful businessman living in New York, is unable to manage his uncontrollable sex life. When his wayward sibling, Sissy (Carey Mulligan), abruptly invades his personal space, Brandon’s carefully constructed world slowly spirals out of control.

Unflinching and relentless, Steve McQueen and Abi Morgan tackle the controversial subject matter head-on, invading every aspect of Brandon’s seedy life through meditative moments – such as a hypnotising rendition of New York, New York from Sissy, which will forever be referenced – and increasingly brazen sexual encounters, rather than unnecessary plot devices and diverting side-stories. Instead of weighing down the narrative by spending time exploring the past that resulted in Brandon and – to an almost equal extent – Continue reading “Review: Shame (2011)”

Cinema Releases: January 13, 2011

War Horse

Director: Steven Spielberg

Starring: Jeremy Irvine, Emily Watson and David Thewlis

Young Albert enlists to service in WWI after his beloved horse, Joey, is sold to the cavalry. Albert’s hopeful journey takes him out of England and across Europe as the war rages on. Continue reading “Cinema Releases: January 13, 2011”

Best Ten Films Of 2011

While 2011 hasn’t exactly been a year of record-breaking box office success, it has been a fantastic one for British cinema, emerging talent and unique independent features which found themselves surpassing the popularity of many much bigger movies.

The films I’ve chosen – and believe me when I say it wasn’t an easy process – are what I think represent the pinnacle of the cinema I Continue reading “Best Ten Films Of 2011”